It is pleasantly convenient but it also comes with very little publicized liability. Unknowingly to you, your device can be highjacked by cyber villains and turned against you.
As recently shown in the news, somebody for example can remotely take control of your car and do whatever he/she wants with it.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I don’t want to sound paranoid, but there are new battlefields and they are nothing like Gettysburg or Waterloo. Little body count but enormous collateral damage.
In the near future, the battles will take place in cyberspace, or in dimly lit rooms.
They already are.
Remote controls are already routinely used by the military.
They are utilized among other things to guide drones and to jam and disable the enemy’s weaponized systems.
Remote controlled devices are also used by insurgents and terrorists to detonate IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices).
But closer to home, somebody can easily take control of your house security system, open your garage door or spy on your computer browsing habits.
This basically means that you have to be vigilant and seriously take into account any unexplained activity happening in your environment.
Especially in your banking institution.
And if you notice anything unusual, be proactive.
Immediately replace the username and password associated with the suspect activity.
I know that it is a pain, but it has to be done.
Personally, I use the Norton Password Generator to create strong 8-10 digits passwords.
“Treat your password like your toothbrush. Don’t let anybody else use it, and get a new one every six months.”
Clifford Stoll
Remote control, yes (maybe). Sloppy control, beware!
Alain
